A bill to require the provision of alternative drinking water to households whose private drinking water is contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid substances from activities of the Department of Defense.

Alternative water for private well owners

If enacted, the Secretary of Defense would be required to offer alternative drinking water starting on the date of enactment. You would be eligible if your private well is downgradient from a military installation and PFOS or PFOA contamination caused only by DoD activities at that installation has at any time exceeded the EPA maximum contaminant level, and another household in your community was already eligible on the enactment date. The Secretary must carry out the offering consistent with CERCLA and coordinate with other PFOS/PFOA cleanup efforts. Alternative drinking water could include bottled water, a hookup to a public water system, or a home filtration system. The Secretary would not have to offer alternative water if all affected households in the community are connected to a municipal drinking water distribution system (as determined by the Secretary), or if DoD has taken CERCLA actions that reduce drinking water exposures, including meeting Federal or State PFOS/PFOA drinking water standards.